“I was surprised” - Ricky Ponting and Nasser Hussain slam India’s decision to open with Anshul Kamboj instead of Mohammed Siraj

Former cricketers Ricky Ponting and Nasser Hussain slammed the Indian team’s decision to open the attack with the debutant Anshul Kamboj alongside Jasprit Bumrah instead of going with the experienced seamer Mohammed Siraj.

While Bumrah conceded runs at an economy of 2.8 in his 13-over spell on the second day of the Manchester Test, Kamboj leaked them at an economy of 4.8 in his 10-over spell. However, he ended the day with a wicket of Ben Duckett on 94 runs in 100 balls.

Speaking on India’s decision to go with Kamboj as the new ball bowler, Ponting slammed Gill & co. as Siraj has had an exceptional series so far, leading the wickets column for the visitors, but didn’t get his chance to open the attack.

“I think we heard it just before the break when we were coming out, [I think] Ravi Shastri said it was rubbish,” Ricky Ponting said on Sky Sports.

“They just missed their areas. I'm not quite sure what they're expecting out of this surface, but I was surprised that they actually went with Kamboj ahead of Siraj with the new ball to start with. Knowing what impact Siraj has had on this series so far, knowing how important the start of England's batting innings is. You know they're going to come out and play their shots,” he added.

Former England captain and commentator Nasser Hussain also opined his views on India’s decision to go with Kamboj ahead of Siraj with the new ball. He also asserted that Rishabh Pant’s valuable and gritty knock went down the drain after Indian new-ball bowlers leaked away too many runs with their poor lines and lengths.

“[There were] slightly changing conditions, but they bowled really poorly. Change in overhead conditions doesn't make you bowl both sides of the wicket. As Ricky said, too many balls on the pads, not enough in that channel, captain's decisions I didn't quite agree with to be honest. Kamboj wasn't even in the squad a week ago, he wasn't in the team,” Nasser Hussain stated.

“To bring him into the squad, bring him into the team and give him the new ball ahead of Siraj seems odd. I would've gone Siraj for a short burst at that end, and then switch him to this end to follow Bumrah, because we've all been talking about that green channel and that strip across. This is the end the seamers probably want to bowl,” he added

“Everything that could possibly go wrong in 14 overs has done, and those runs, you know, Rishabh Pant has gone out there on one leg and gotten valuable runs today in a partnership with others, they've just handed those runs back to England,” he concluded.

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